food webs, chains, and ecosystem stuff Flashcards
evaporation
process by which water changes from liquid form to an atmospheric gas
transpiration
water enters atmosphere by evaporating from leaves of plants
how many processes are involved in the carbon cycle
four
name the four processes in carbon cycle
biological,, geochemical, mixed biogeochemical, and human activity
define the biological processes of the carbon cycle
biological processes- such as photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition of plants and animals`
define the geochemical processes of the carbon cycle
geochemical processes- such as the release of carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere by volcanoes
mixed biogeochemical processes–
such as the burial of carbon rich remains of organisms and their conversion into coal and petroleum (fossil fuels) by pressure of the overlying earth
human activity–
including mining, burning of fossil fuels and the cutting and burning of forests
nitrogen fixation
when bacteria that live o soil and roots of plants called legumes convert nitrogen gas into ammonia
denitrification
when soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas
decomposers
absorb nutrients from dead things
detrivores
eat dead things
competition
when two organisms of same or different species are competing for resources (food or mates)
predation
when one organisms is killing and eating another
mutualism
an interaction between organisms where both benefit from the relationship
commensalism
when an interaction between two organisms is beneficial to one but not the other, but they are not harmed
parasitism
when one organism lives on another and harms them but does not eat them
food chain
transfer of energy between trophic levels in an ecosystem
food web
show the relationships between many food chains in an ecosystem